Paper file



July 13, 1943. .1. A. JOHNSON 2,324,260

PAPER FILE Filed Nov. 6. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 13, 1943. J. A. JOHNSON 2,324,260

PAPER FILE Filed Nov. 6, 1942 s Sheets-Shee t 2 VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA July 13, 1943. J. A. JOHNSON 2,324,260

PAPER FILE Filed Nov. 6. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.2

'clined support therefor.

Patented July 13, 1943 PAPER FILE John Arthur Johnson, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Art Metal Construction Company, James-- iown, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 6, 1942, Serial No. 464,698

17 Claims.

This invention relates to paper files of the class known as visible indexes, in which cards carried by holders mounted in a panel are arranged with their identification-receiving margins in overlapping relationship so that all are visible at one time. The invention is more particularly concerned with a novel arrangement of an inclined paper-filing panel for hinged, visibly indexed cards or card-holders, together with a front-end plate and a rear-end follower, and a base provided with inclined seats upon or in which the panel is movably seated and arranged to be unseated and removed therefrom for use elsewhere and subsequently returned to its predetermined, inclined position on the seats or ways of the base. The invention is also concerned with certain novel features of the rear-end follower, with particular reference to its relationship with the panel.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a paper file embcdying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same on a reduced scale;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 5--3 of Fig.

Fig. with the rear-end follower swung forwardly;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on line 88 of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional iew on line S- of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein by way of example, and having reference at first more particularl to Fig. 2, there is shown a paper file comprising in a general way a base and a paper-filing panel !2, the latter being inclined and the former presenting a correspondingly in- To this end the base Hi. as herein shown. comprises two side walls M of appropriate material, such as metal, wood. or molded plastic, suitably joined to each other as by cross-ties 56, one of which. is shown in 8, and these walls support inclined seats 58 upon which the paper-filing panel i2 is seated.

Lateral restraint of the panel is imposed by appropriate means such as lateral abutments in the '7 is a plan of the upper portion of the file 5% nature of upwardly-directed webs 28 between which the panel is disposed. Restraint of the panel upwardly and perpendicular to the seats is is imposed by suitable means such as inwardly-directed flanges 22 (see Fig. 3). In the present example, these flanges do not extend throughout the length of the panel but extend part way only of the panel margins up to the point 24 (see Fig. 2), leaving the remaining portions of the margins uncovered and free to be lifted (see Fi 8) fOr a purpose presently to be described.

In this example, the panel i 2 is slidable lengthwise along the seats or ways l8 for removal of the panel from the base and replacement thereon. Descent of the panel by gravity along the ways is limited as by stops it (see Fig. 5) at the lower ends of the ways. Ascent of the panel by sliding along the ways is normally prevented by mating parts (see Fig. 6) such as an opening 2%! in the panel and a fixed detent 3% on the base. This detent projects so slightly into the opening that with ordinary working clearances of the panel edges beneath the flanges 22, the upper portion of the panel, being unrestrained, can be lifted from the ways and hence the opening 28 can be caused to clear the detent 3Q, whereupon the panel may be caused to slide upwardly along the ways until it is entirely free from the base and may be taken elsewhere for inspection of the file or work thereon. To facilitate manipulation of the panel, the latter (see Fig. 7) is provided with an opening 32 for the introduction of the fingers.

The panel 12, which may be made of metal, Wood or plastic, has suitable provision for receiving the papers to be filed. In the present example the arrangement is such that the file papers normally stand generall upright but may be swung about horizontal axes into a generally horizontal position. The arrangement is also such that the papers and their carriers may readily be removed from'and replaced upon the panel and their relative order or sequence changed from time to time.

To these and other ends, the panel I2 is provided with inwardly facing channels 34 (see Fig. 3) to receive trunnions 36 on the ends of wires 33 for the mounting of paper sheets or paper sheet holders 4!] by hinge members 42, such as those disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,955,592 to David H. Linn, to which reference may be had for details not disclosed herein. These hinge members permit one or more, herein four, stiff cards 4!! with cut indexes to be placed on each wire. These cards may serve to receive records directly thereon, or they may serve as holders for record sheets.

At the front of the panel, a front plate 44 (see Figs. 3 and 4) is provided with trunnions 46 resting against end abutments 48 at the lower ends of the panel channels 34, while at the rear of the panel a rear follower 50 is provided with trunnions 52 (see Fig. 9) in said channels. In the present example, this follower comprises two downwardly diverging walls 54 and 56 (see Fig. 2) with an intervening brace 58, and the rear wall, at its lower end, rests upon the panel and thus affords a strong and effective prop which limits backward swing of the follower.

Referring now to Fig. 7, rearward sliding movement of the trunnions 52 of the follower B in the channels 34 is limited as by fixed stops 60, but the follower can be removed by first placing it in the angular position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 so that one of its trunnions will clear the adjacent stop, whereupon it may be tilted forwardly if desired into the position shown in Fig. 7 when the cards or sheets and the front plate 44 are tilted forwardly into horizontal positions. The front plate may be provided with cushions 62 and the base 14 may be provided with cushions B4 to rest upon a table.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, what I claim and desire, by Letters Patent, to secure is:

1. In a paper file, the combination of a normally exposed lengthwise sliclable, paper-filing panel, a series of normally exposed sheets normally projecting upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and arranged to be swung downwardly and forwardly, and a base having a sloping way on which said panel rests and is s idable and removable upwardly.

2. In a paper file, the combination of a normally exposed lengthwise slidable, paper-filing panel, a series of normally exposed sheets normally projecting upwardly and rearwardly from .1

mally projecting upwardly and rearwardly from I said panel and arranged to be swung downwardly and forwardly, a base having a sloping way on which said panel rests in a corresponding sloping position, a stop limiting descent of said panel, and a stop normally limiting ascent of said panel.

4. In a paper file, the combination of an inclined, paper-filing panel, and a base provided with inclined channels having flanges overlying margins of said panel along part only of the mar gins, remaining portions of the margins being uncovered and free to be lifted, said panel and said base having cooperative lockin meansunlocked. by such lifting.

5. In a paper file, the combination of an inclined, paper-filing panel, and a base provided with inclined channels having flanges overlying margins of said panel along part only of the margins, remaining portions of the margins being uncovered and free to be lifted, said panel and said base bein provided with mating parts normally engaged but disengaged when said'panel is displaced upwardly at one such uncovered portion.

6. In a paper file, the combination of side walls provided with inclined seats, an 1110111166..

paper-filing panel movably seated upon said seats and arranged to be unseated and removed therefrom by upward movement with relation to said seats, and a series of sheet holders normally outstanding upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and pivoted thereto for angular movement forwardly into generally horizontal position.

'7. In a paper file, the combination of side walls provided with inclined channels, an inclined, paper-filing panel normally seated in said channels and arranged to be removed therefrom by upward movement along said channels, and a series of sheet holders normally outstanding upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and pivoted thereto for angular movement forwardly into generally horizontal position.

8. In a paper file, the combination of side walls provided with inclined seats, an inclined, paperfiling panel movably seated upon said seats and arranged to be removed therefrom, a series of sheet holders normally outstanding upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and pivoted thereto for angular movement forwardly into generally horizontal position, and means normally to predetermine the position of said panel on said seats.

9. In a paper file, the combination of side walls provided with inclined channels, an inclined, paper-filing panel normally seated in said chan: nels and arranged to be removed therefrom by upward movement along said channels, said panel being provided with channels received in the first named channels and a series of sheet holders having pivots whose ends are received in the second named channels.

10. In a paper file, the combination of an inclined panel, a series of exposed sheets carried by and normally outstanding upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and having exposed indexes at their upper edges, a base having an inclined seat upon which said panel is seated and slidable lengthwise, lateral guides for said panel, and means limiting descent of said panel along said guides.

11. In a paper file, the combination of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined panel support, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined panel, a set of sheets supported thereon and normally projecting upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and a rear follower supported on said panel at the rear of said sheets, normally extending upwardly and rearwardly and arranged to swing forwardly and downwardly, said follower having a prop which limits its rearward swinging movement.

12. In a paper file, the combination of an upwardly and rearwardly inclined panel support, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined panel, a set of sheets supported thereon and normally projecting upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and a rear follower supported on said panel at the rear of said sheets, normally extending upwardly and rearwardly and arranged to swing forwardly and downwardly, said follower comprising front and rear, downwardly diverging walls, said rear wall serving as a prop to limit rearward, swinging movement of said follower.

13. In a paper file, the combination of a base having an inclined support, a correspondingly inclined panel supported on said support and provided with channels, exposed sheets pivotally supported by said channels and normally pro- J'ecting upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and arranged to be swung downwardly and forwardly, and a rear, normally exposed follower pivotally supported by said channels, normally projecting upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and arranged to be removed therefrom by movement to a position oblique to said channels.

14. In a paper file, the combination of a base having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined support, a correspondingly inclined panel supported on said support and provided with channels, sheets pivotally supported by said channels and normally outstanding upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a rear follower pivotally supported by said channels and normally outstanding upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and stops limiting rearward movement of said follower in said channels.

15. In a paper file, the combination of a planar, paper-filing panel having opposed, inwardly facing, laterally disposed, sheet-retaining means, a series of sheets laterally retained by said retaining means and normally projecting upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and arranged to be swung forwardly and downwardly, means normally to predetermine the rearward inclination of said sheets, and a base having an inclined panel seat which is parallel with, underlies, supports and predetermines the position of said panel and provides for removal of said panel with its said retaining means as a unit for use elsewhere and its restoration as a unit to its normal predetermined position on said seat.

16. In a paper file, the combination of a planar, paper-filing panel having opposed, inwardly facing, laterally disposed, sheet-retaining means, a series of sheets laterally retained by said retaining means and normally projecting upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and arranged to be swung forwardly and downwardly, means normally to predetermine the rearward inclination of said sheets, a base having an inclined panel support which is parallel with, underlies, supports, and predetermines the position of said panel and provides for removal of said panel with its said retaining means as a unit for use elsewhere and its restoration as a unit to its normal, predetermined position on said seat, and means distinct from said retaining means to secure said panel in place upon said seat.

17. In a paper file, the combination of a planar, paper-filing panel having opposed, inwardly facing, laterally disposed, sheet-retaining means, a series of sheets laterally retained by said retaining means and normally projecting upwardly and rearwardly from said panel and arranged to be swung forwardly and downwardly, means normally to predetermine the rearward inclination of said sheets, a'base having an inclined panel support which is parallel with, underlies, supports, and predetermines the lateral and lengthwise position of said panel and provides for removal of said panel with its said retaining means as a unit for use elsewhere and its restoration as a unit to its normal, predetermined position on said seat, and means distinct from said retaining means to secure said panel in place upon said seat.

JOHN ARTHUR JOHNSON. 

